Welcome

Edgar Stammers Primary Academy is a nurturing and caring school, based in the Coalpool area of Walsall, where everyone is made to feel welcome. We pride ourselves on our inclusive learning environment where we encourage children to dream and plan for their future. Our ethos is based upon the recognition that every child is unique, therefore we invest in them individually by ensuring that they are well known, well-loved and well taught. Building strong, effective relationships form the foundations of our school, our curriculum and our role within the community.

Being ready, respectful and safe (our three school rules) underpin our expectations of all our children in all that we do.

Curriculum

We are a school with high expectations and our children strive to achieve their best through staff, parents and pupils working hard together, personalising learning so each child meets their full potential.

Our mission is that the curriculum should be engaging, enriching and empowering for all children but also be appropriate to their needs, equipping them for lifelong learning. Furthermore, it should allow them to learn about themselves and others, opening their eyes to the world around them, promoting debate and enquiry.

Our creative approach to the curriculum encompasses several subjects across a rolling yearly cycle of themed units which allows for all the required objectives to be covered. In addition, key learning skills are embedded in the everyday teaching and learning at Edgar Stammers – communication, application of number and the ability to use a range of information technology, working with others, improving and taking ownership of their own learning and performance and problem solving.

Visits, visitors, curriculum enrichment days, focus weeks and parent engagement activities enable children to experience the world they live in through exciting and memorable ways.

Wider Learning

We are very fortunate at Edgar Stammers to have large school grounds and we take great pride in our school environment. We value the benefits of outdoor learning and how it is a stimulant for exploration and experimentation through hands-on, real life experiences.

We are constantly developing areas in school to attract wildlife for the children to engage with by planting shrubs and trees as well as nurturing planters and our enhancing our nature area.

Our children are taught to value the outdoor area and become responsible citizens through general duties, including litter picking, composting, maintaining growing areas, taking care of the natural habitats and caring for the animals that live on the school grounds. This is done through our Gardening Group, our Eco School Group and our Woodland Adventure Groups.

Our Reception and Nursery children engage with forest school activities through ‘Muddy Mondays’ and visiting Forest Schools in the local area.

A further opportunity for learning is provided by an outstanding specialist Music Teacher, who visits us twice a week. This has allowed our pupils to learn a variety of instruments from drums to keyboards and then perform in front of large audiences. One of the highlights of the week is singing practice, where they learn a plethora of themed songs, which usually lead up to a rehearsed concert either in school or at an organised event. Since we have been able to offer this additional learning, our pupils’ confidence has grown and their enjoyment of music is enhanced.

Pupil Voice

Children at Edgar Stammers are given the opportunity to share their ideas, thoughts and views about the school, ensuring their opinions are heard and valued. This builds on our nurturing ethos, giving every child the opportunity to shine and have a sense of belonging and personal achievement.

Our School Council is elected by their class to represent them, to then work as a team to focus on raising money for school projects, or charities, and to share ideas on how to enhance the school environment. Furthermore, we also have an elected Head Boy and Girl and Deputy Head Boy and Girl for our school, who are ambassadors and excellent role models for their peers. Many of these pupils have met with the local Mayor and the local MP as well as visiting the Houses of Parliament to get a real life experience of the impact, and importance, of Democracy in Britain.

Our Eco Club meets weekly and have been awarded the Bronze Eco Award. They have been instrumental in making our school a greener place to be.

Tech Team are instrumental in ensuring our ICT equipment runs smoothly and assist with the day to day use of iPads in the classrooms.

Another significant group who help our school are the Playground Leaders who are excellent at lunchtimes, playing with others, organising equipment and games, as well as encouraging pupils to follow school rules.

Parental Involvement

Our community links, with our families, is a vital part of our work here at Edgar Stammers. We are developing strong relationships with parents, and the wider community, who are working with us to help shape our children’s futures.

We actively listen to our parents and respond to requests to allow them to participate in a range of activities. Examples are: Reading Cafes, Project Workshops, The Great Get Together Picnic, Hot Chocolate Fridays, Meet the Teacher, Sports Days, Craft Afternoons and School Performances.

Our Parental Engagement Officer has secured a strong foundation for a dedicated Parents’ and Friends’ Association who help to organise whole school events, fund raise and volunteer to help within school.

Our Community Hub is also an integral part of our strategy for engaging with our families. We offer ‘Chill and Chat’ mornings, family support work and we work closely with Walsall Housing Group to provide training as well as offering support and advice in a range of ways.

Through working with the community, we encourage the children to care for others, whether it is someone in our school, or local area, or further afield such as overseas. We strive for them to have an awareness of the whole world, including an understanding of global issues, all of which is then underpinned by the promotion of the core British Values.